Hand-lever control for motor and sport boats

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-lever control for motor and sport boats with a hand lever having a handle and guided in at least one function plane for controlling the engine. In order to facilitate maneuvering for the pilot, the hand lever or its handle is pivotal about the axis of the hand lever in two directions against a spring force and at least one sensor detecting this rotation is provided whose output controls a steering system.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In combination with a motor or sports boat having an engine, a propeller drivable by the engine, and a steering system: 
       a hand lever pivotal on the boat about a main axis and extending along a handle axis generally orthogonal to the main axis, the handle axis defining a function plane on pivoting of the handle about the main axis;  
       a part carried on the hand lever and pivotal thereon about the lever axis from a central position into a pair of opposite end positions;  
       speed-control means connecting the hand lever to the engine for varying a speed of same in accordance with the angular position of the hand lever in the function plane;  
       a sensor contacting with the part and producing an output on movement of same out of the center position into one of the end positions;  
       direction-control means connected between the sensor and the steering system for operating the steering system in accordance with the output.  
     
     
       2. The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein the lever is formed with a bore extending parallel to the lever axis and the part has an axially extending rod slidable axially of the lever axis in the bore, further comprising: 
       a spring urging the rod and part axially outward in the bore;  
       a projection extending radially of the lever axis on the lever;  
       a guide on the lever extending axially of the lever axis and slidably receiving the projection, the sensor being position such that it can only be actuated to produce its output when the part is pushed in against the spring force past a predetermined position.  
     
     
       3. The combination defined in  claim 2  wherein the guide is formed with an axially extending leg and, at an inner end thereof, with an angularly extending leg, the sensor being operable by the projection and being at an end of the angularly extending leg. 
     
     
       4. The combination defined in  claim 1  wherein there are two such sensors, each responding when the part is pivoted about the lever axis into a respective one of the end positions, the control means directing the boat to port when one of the sensors produces its output and to starboard when the other of the sensors-produces its output. 
     
     
       5. The combination defined in  claim 4  wherein the part is a handle extending in the center position transverse to the lever axis and generally parallel to the main axis. 
     
     
       6. The combination defined in  claim 4  wherein the boat has, in addition to the first-mentioned engine and propeller, a second engine and a second propeller driven by the second engine, the speed-control means being connected to both engines. 
     
     
       7. The combination defined in  claim 6  wherein each of the engines is provided with a respective openable clutch and transmission by means of which it is connected to the respective propeller, the propellers being fixed-pitch propellers, the one clutch being opened by the direction-control means when the first sensor is actuated and the other clutch being opened by the direction-control means when the second sensor is actuated. 
     
     
       8. The combination defined in  claim 7  wherein when one of the sensors is actuated beyond a predetermined limit, the other sensor reverses the respective propeller and closes the respective clutch. 
     
     
       9. The combination defined in  claim 6  wherein both propellers are of variable pitch and connected to the direction-control means, the direction control means, on generation of the output by one of the sensors, increasing the pitch of one oft he propellers and decreasing the pitch of the other. 
     
     
       10. The combination defined in  claim 9  wherein on increasing one pitch and decreasing the other, both pitches are varied to the same extent. 
     
     
       11. The combination defined in  claim 6  wherein the steering system includes a rudder deflected in accordance with the output.